Topic of interest

grouch_in_training · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2004 1:45 pm

Here's a thought: A "person of interest" is a suspect, no matter what police say.And no, our paper is not running stories out of Utah (thanks, chief!), but I'm sick of seeing this crop up in stories I do use.Comments?Sorry, Blanp, if we've done this before. A quick search didn't yield any suggestions.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:22 pm

I'd be inclined to agree, but I do not know how law enforcement defines "person of interest." If there a legal distinction, I'd be careful.

Jackie · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2004 6:57 pm

To further complicate matters, I've heard a couple of news organizations say or write that someone is "officially" a person of interest. As far as I know, "person of interest" is not an "official" designation.The paper I work for, and I heartily agree, does not use "person of interest." A person is a suspect, or they are not. I think (not necessarily my paper's opinion) "person of interest" is a wussy way of calling someone a suspect without being held liable for slander, and it's too easy to wield the term for political or otherwise manipulative purposes. So any reference to someone being a "person of interest" just doesn't make it into the paper.[ August 03, 2004: Message edited by: Jackie ]

bcubbison · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:10 pm

Since the Richard Jewell case, law enforcement officials have been reluctant to call anyone a suspect until the arrest. "Person of interest" is the term they've been using, but "material witness" is another imperfect option. That doesn't mean we have to follow. I guess we could use, as the British say, "helping the police with their inquiries."

Cootaboot · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:17 pm

What about "wanted for questioning"?I'm never sure if that means "Why'd you kill her, Bob?" or "Hey Bob, did you happen to see a nut wandering around with a bloody pick axe?"

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:25 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Brian Cubbison:
"Person of interest" is the term they've been using, but "material witness" is another imperfect option. <hr></blockquote>I believe "material witness" has a specific legal meaning. (A quick Google offers this definition: "a witness whose testimony is both relevant to the matter at issue and required in order to resolve the matter.") So not everyone wanted for questioning is a material witness.Apparently, "person of interest" does not have a specific legal meaning. So you cannot assume every "person of interest" is a suspect. If a cop refers to a witness in a murder as a "person of interest" and you report that the person is a suspect, you might be in trouble.

paulwiggins · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:04 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by ADKbrown:
. If a cop refers to a witness in a murder as a "person of interest" and you report that the person is a suspect, you might be in trouble.<hr></blockquote>
Correct. I know of cases where police have used the term when it was clear later that the person was never a suspect. NSW Police have a media booklet to help prevent such misrepresentations. One imagines that other jurisdictions do also.

grouch_in_training · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:06 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by ADKbrown:
Apparently, "person of interest" does not have a specific legal meaning. So you cannot assume every "person of interest" is a suspect. If a cop refers to a witness in a murder as a "person of interest" and you report that the person is a suspect, you might be in trouble.<hr></blockquote>Thanks, ADK. Point well taken. Still, POI doesn't tell the reader much and smacks of jargon.Perhaps I'm overly sensitive... We have a reporter who loves to say someone has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge by saying John Doe "was originally charged with a superceding count of" whatever. Not too helpful to the reader.Thanks for the ideas.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:31 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by grouch_in_training:
Thanks, ADK. Point well taken. Still, POI doesn't tell the reader much and smacks of jargon.<hr></blockquote>Your aversion to jargon is healthy. As others have suggested, you don't have to parrot police jargon in a story.

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